She's certainly something else. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview another woman, teacher, PRIista last year, and I was very impressed by this woman's devotion to Elba Esther. When she spoke about La Maestra, it was clear that she had so much personal respect for her political prowess. This woman was very accomplished in her own right (Deputy in Congress, national leader, etc.). Someone who is able to exert so much influence over others is always pretty incredible to observe.

Of course, in history, some pretty evil people have inspired blind devotion in others, so it's not always a good thing. And it's also a little scarey.

The problem for La Maestra now, however, is what to do next. She has a considerable following and machine within the teacher's union (though it's not ironclad), but no party to use to wield power. The SNTE has been courted by both the PRI and the PRD, while La Maestra has been trying to negotiate with the PAN. The PRI has expelled her; the PRD probably won't want her (as long as AMLO has anything to say about it); and the PAN would be well advised to be careful with her.

Aside from being 'scary' (in the sense that one gets the impression from looking at her that she has had ample and disasterous plastic surgery) she has no core values other than accuring power--and the money that goes with it.

Does she accept or militate against the barbaric status quo that does not ensure an equal opprotunity to quality public education?--or is she just another hypocritical prista/panista, solid in support of furthering inequality in the country's education system?

I incline toward the latter given her mercenary opprotunism that has become evident these past two weeks. Let the PAN deal with this unscrupulous plasticized whore of a politico.

Let's remember that she does have a party; "Nueva Alianza" or PANAL which was formed by former ITAM students in conjuction with the SNTE. They got official registration as a party in the last election because of the "uno de tres" campaign, where the message was basically that they knew they couldn't win the presidency, but they asked people to vote for them in one of the three ballots (presidency, senate, deputies). I think they got something close to 5% of the vote in both chambers, and since it's a mixed electoral system, they get legislators. Along with the PAN (allegedly one of the recorded calls they used as proof in the PRI to expell her was a call Gordillo made to one of the PRI governors telling him Madrazo could not win, so he had to support Calderon, but that's all gossip)she has a lot of legislative support, and PANAL can be a pivotal group for some issues.